court rank; official rank
Historical term for the rank system in the Japanese imperial court, especially under the Ritsuryō system. Still used in modern contexts when discussing historical ranks or the current imperial household's ranking system.
彼は従五位の位階を授けられた。
He was granted the court rank of Junior Fifth Rank.
位階は律令制のもとで整備された。
Court ranks were established under the Ritsuryō system.
court rank and honors
From Middle Chinese 位階 (MC *hwijH *keaj), meaning 'rank' or 'grade'. Adopted into Japanese as part of the Ritsuryō system terminology.